Riding Tool Kit
Spare Tube
You should always carry one or two spare tubes. Make sure they match the size of tires on your bike and 
the valve type (Presta or Schrader). Many riders prefer to use a new tube in case of a flat and repair the old tube at a worktable at home at a more convenient time.
Patch Kit
There are many variations on this kit, but all will contain several rubber patches, a tube of glue and a metal scraper or sandpaper. This enables you to patch a tube on the road. Park makes a glueless patch, but this is water sensitive (you can't patch in the rain) and considered not as durable as glued patches.
Pump
You can't put air back in a flat if you don't have a pump. A mini-pump stores easily in a small bag, while a frame pump (one which attaches to your frame with clips or velcro straps) has a longer stroke and is easier to use, particularly with high-pressure road tires. You can also get a compressed gas inflator, which will work easily and fill quickly, but you'll have to buy a new CO2 cartridge each time when it's empty. CO2 cartridges are designed for emergency use - to get you home from your ride safely, not for everyday inflation. Since CO2 is less dense than regular air, it leaks quickly from your tube - you'll need to refill your tire with air at the first opportunity. Make sure your pump will accommodate the type of valve (Presta or Schrader) on your tires. Some pumps come with adapters to 
service both valve types. Some pumps also come with a pressure guage, which is very helpful. You should really have a pump and a backup inflation system (pump or inflator) - twice I've had pumps fail on the road.
Tire Levers
These are used to help take the tire off the rim in the event of a flat, and come in many shapes, colors and materials. They are usually packaged three to a set.
Tire Boot
A boot is a small piece of material which can be used to "patch" a cut in the tire itself which might be large enough to allow the tube to squeeze out. Park makes an excellent patch you can buy, but many riders carry a small piece of old canvas or other sturdy water-resistant material. In a pinch, a dollar bill makes a decent boot. The boot is laid over the cut between the tire and the tube before the tube is inflated. A good boot will usually last the life of the tire.
Mini-Tool
A good mini tool takes up little space and contains many tools you might need on the road, 
including common Allen wrenches (such as a 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8mm), a torx wrench for disc brakes, regular and Philips screwdrivers and a chain tool. A chain tool will allow you to remove damaged links and reconnect the ends should you suffer a chain break. In 20 years of riding I have never had a chain break, but a riding partner of mine once did.
Cell Phone
ET phone home.
Manual
This doesn't make it onto most tool kit lists, but I carry a small repair manual in case I can't remember how to use the chain tool, for example.
| Accessories | On-Line Bike Forums | On-Line Bike Blogs |
